Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards-August 2018 – Info Money Manage

You can trust the integrity of our balanced, independent financial advice. We may, however, receive compensation from the issuers of some products mentioned in this article. Opinions are the author’s alone, and this content has not been provided by, reviewed, approved or endorsed by any advertiser.

Travelcredit cards reward you for your purchases and loyalty with a variety of benefits that will help get you on the next plane to Cabo.

Usually, the right card will simply give you points you can redeem in buying your ticket, but some come with additional benefits such as insurance, companion tickets, emergency assistance, and more.

Which benefits you receive, how quickly you can accrue miles, how you can use those miles, and what fees are involved will vary from one credit card to the next.

If you’re confused just thinking about it, we can help! Here’s an in-depth guide to travel credit cards in 2018 that will help you understand everything you need to turn your regular spending into a vacation.

Overview: Best Travel Credit Cards

With so much competition in the industry, it might be hard to figure out which card is right for you.

Here’s a list of Money Under 30’s favorite travel credit cards—we’re sure you’ll find the right one for you on this list.

Note: These credit cards all require a credit score of at least 700; the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card requires a score of at least 750.

Best Travel Cards With Sign-Up Bonus

Editor’s Choice, August 2018:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This offer requires Excellent Credit credit.

Card Highlights

Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

View Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card details and how to apply »

Back to Top

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers some great benefits with no annual fee for the first year and a mere $95 for every year after that. It also has no foreign transaction fees either, saving you a bundle on foreign purchases.

Enjoy a whopping 50,000 bonus points when you sign up and spend $4,000 within three months of opening the account and another 5,000 just for adding another authorized user within three months of opening the account. The earn rate is two points for every dollar spent on travel and dining, and that category is exhaustive, including trains, buses, and taxis, tolls, parking lots, hotels, campgrounds, cruises, airlines, and more. You’ll earn one point for all other purchases, as well.

You can also redeem points for gift cards and cash though you’ll get the most out of your miles if you use it to purchase airline tickets or hotel rooms. That’s because you can transfer your rewards points to participating hotel and airlines at a 1:1 ratio. That’s more flexible and generous than most travel credit cards rewards redemption structures.

Some of the partners include Marriott, British Airways, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, and United Airlines. You also get more value for your money if you book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform. This allows you to book flights, car rentals, cruises, and hotel stays using your points with the added bonus of not restricting you with blackout dates or seats.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Credit Needed: Excellent/Good

Receive 50,000 bonus points- a $500 value – after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, you can get a 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase.

No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire

Flexibility to redeem for a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® or Merrill Lynch® accounts like checking, savings, and 529, for gift cards or use at the Bank of America Travel Center.

There are numerous reasons to love the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. For starters, it offers a huge welcome bonus of 50,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days. That’s not only extremely generous, but it’s completely conceivable to reach that limit for most spenders.

You’ll earn two points for every dollar spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points for any other category purchase. That’s also a great earn rate by industry standards. You can easily redeem your bonus points in a variety of ways including:

A statement credit

Direct deposit into your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch account

Gift cards

What’s more, there are no limits to how many points you can earn, and your points will never expire for the entire life of your Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card account.

The most amazing thing about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card is that it gives you several of the benefits you’ll get when you sign up for expensive travel cards, but it only costs $95 a year. That’s a great savings.

Best Everyday Travel Rewards

Discover it® Miles

This offer requires Excellent, Good credit.

Card Highlights

INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 30,000 Miles, you get 60,000 Miles.

Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases all with no annual fee.

No Blackout Dates – fly any airline, stay at any hotel.

View Discover it® Miles details and how to apply »

Back to Top

The Discover it® Miles has a lot going for it in terms of travel credit cards. For one thing, it comes with absolutely no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for travelers who want to spend but don’t want to commit.

The card also has 0 percent introductory APR for new purchases for the first 14 months, something that most travel credit cards don’t offer. After the intro period the regular rate would apply.

The standard earn rate is 1.5 miles per every dollar spent on purchases without any categories or limitations. This is a good amount, but the most exciting benefit you’ll receive from the Discover it® Miles is the end of year bonus. At the end of the first year owning the card, Discover will match whatever miles you’ve earned for the entire 12-month period. That’s an astronomical offer that no other travel card can compete with, doubling your earn rate to three miles per dollar.

Redeeming your miles is easy with the Discover it® Miles because there are no blackout dates, so you can use any airline, book at any hotel, and drive any rental car you’d like.

Additionally, you’ll never have your APR raised because you missed a payment. That’s just good form. The Discover it® Miles also has built-in security features such as chip technology and anti-fraud gates to help stop identity theft and other fraudulent charges.

If we had to pinpoint a drawback to this card, it would be that the Discover it® Miles is not accepted everywhere. It’s accepted almost everywhere, but you are best off checking locations before you travel with this card alone.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card

Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card

Credit Needed: Excellent/Good

New! Earn 30K bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value

Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

See additional Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card details

Intro APRPurchases

Intro TermPurchases

Intro APRBalance Transfers

Intro TermBalance Transfers

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0%

12 months

0%

12 months

14.24%-26.74% (Variable)

$0

Back to Top

A slightly different approach to travel rewards, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card takes a more holistic view of things. That means you just earn a boatload of points for all of your travel-related expenses and purchases.

So when you book your airline tickets, for example, that’ll earn you 3x points to the dollar. Reserve your hotel room? 3x points to the dollar. Enjoy a romantic dinner on the Thames? 3x to the dollar. Get the idea? But, it goes even further. You’ll earn 3x points per each dollar spent on so many travel expenses you wouldn’t even consider like taxis, ferries, tolls, and parking garages.

Another great travel perk from the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card is the no foreign transaction fee. This little fee can add up to a big deal at the end of a trip, so avoiding it can save you hundreds of dollars or more. Add to that the travel insurance, roadside assistance, and cell phone protection (up to $600 per claim and up to two claims per year with a $25 deductible), and the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card ensures that you’ll have a pleasant trip wherever you go.

The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is not your typical travel credit card. Aside from the first year annual fee waiver, members like this card because it has one of the best earn rates around. Most travel cards limit your high earn rate to travel and dining, but with the Capital One® Venture® Rewards credit card, you can receive two miles for every dollar charged across all categories. This makes earning a lot simpler and more profitable. You’ll also earn 50,000 bonus miles when you use your card for $3,000 worth of purchases within three months of opening the card.

What’s even more astounding is that you’ll earn 10 miles for every dollar you spend on Capital One’s reservation portal hotels.com/venture. You won’t find another offer like that with any other credit card company. Add to that, absolutely no foreign transaction fees and no balance transfer fees, and the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is one of the most well-rounded credit cards you could ask for.

This card offers benefits that are ongoing and not just a hefty welcome bonus that leaves much to be desired once the year is up. The rewards points are easy to use, letting you book your tickets through any airline, without blackout date or expirations to worry about. You can also use the points as a statement credit to pay for things like rental cars, cruises, hotels, and more.

Best Travel Cards With No Annual Fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Credit Needed: Excellent/Good

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire

NEW OFFER: 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions

Get an additional 10% customer points bonus on every purchase when you have an active Bank of America® checking or savings account

If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25% – 75%

See additional Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card details

Intro APRPurchases

Intro TermPurchases

Intro APRBalance Transfers

Intro TermBalance Transfers

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% Introductory APR on purchases

12 billing cycles

N/A

N/A

16.74% – 24.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

$0.00

Back to Top

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a similar offer to the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards card, and it also caters to the casual credit card holder. If you don’t find yourself putting a lot on your card each month but still want the fringe benefits that come when you do, this could be the best card for you.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has no annual or foreign transaction fees. That’s already a big savings, and it means you don’t lose anything from keeping the card around.

Next, you’ll get a neat 25,000 online bonus points, and you only have to spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening the account to qualify for them. What’s even nicer is that you’ll earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend using your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, and that’s without limitations. Every category earns you the same 1.5 points per dollar rate, and you can earn as many points as you can spend.

The biggest incentive to choosing the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, though, is for Bank of America Preferred Rewards Clients. If you qualify, you could up your reward points earn rate by 25 percent, 50 percent, or even 75 percent depending on what type of account and how much money you have in the account on a consistent basis. You can learn more about the Preferred Reward program here.

That means the same dollar purchase that you put on your card could earn you as much as 2.652 points. That’s a tremendous offer that you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card

This offer requires Excellent/Good credit.

Card Highlights

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day and pay no annual fee. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture

The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card is one of the best all around travel credit cards, especially for people who don’t necessarily spend a lot of money on their credit cards each month. A positive thing about this card is that it offers some excellent benefits but doesn’t make a lot of demands on the cardholder. Basically, the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card is raising the bar for travel cards.

To begin with, there’s no annual fee, so you can keep the card without it costing you a penny. There’s also no foreign transaction fee so if you buy gifts, meals, or other items overseas or online, you won’t be charged extra for these.

The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card also gives you a nice 20,000 miles welcome bonus as long as you spend $1,000 in the first three months of opening the account. This isn’t as big as the 50,000 points you can get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, but the minimum spend is only $1,000, and that’s a lot more manageable for most people than the $4,000 requirement of the Chase Sapphire Preferred®.

Additionally, the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card offers you 0 percent APR for the first 12 months and low APR after that, so making new purchases on this card is certainly worthwhile.

Finally, the earn rate on this card is 1.25 miles per dollar spent. That’s not as high as you’ll find on other cards, but it’s not much lower, and since you aren’t paying any annual fees, often this will work out more advantageous than the competition. Plus you’ll get 10 miles for every dollar if you book with hotels.com/venture. That’s astounding! No blackout dates or restrictions round out this travel card nicely.

Best Travel Rewards For Business

Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business

This offer requires Excellent/Good credit.

Back to Top

The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business offers small businesses a way to really save on travel expenses with this exclusive for business travel credit card.

Geared specifically towards smaller businesses that can’t afford the high premium on some of the more upscale cards like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®. The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business comes with all of the benefits you would expect from a travel card without the added fees.

Receive a generous 1.5 miles per dollar rewards earn rate with the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business, better than some cards that only offer 1.25 or even one on the dollar. Additionally, you’ll get 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within the first three months of opening the account. For most businesses, this isn’t hard to accomplish.

Seasonal businesses, in particular, will appreciate the 0 percent APR on new purchases for the first nine months as this feature will allow you to restock before a busy season or get through a slow season without paying interest.

The thing that really makes the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business a great catch is that it charges absolutely no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. That means it costs you nothing to have in your pocket, and you’ll save significantly on foreign transactions.

Finally, no blackout dates or expiration on miles means you have the flexibility to use your reward miles wherever and whenever you want, rather than being forced into an arrangement that is not best suited for you or your team, or losing out on the bonus offers altogether. The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business is certainly a great option for small to medium-sized businesses.

How We Came Up With Our List Of The Top Travel Credit Cards

Choosing the best travel credit cards can be tricky, and that’s why we wanted to be as particular as possible so you wouldn’t have to do any of the legwork.

We’ve scoured the internet, spoken with card issuers, and conducted in-depth research to find all of the most promising travel offers available.

We then weighed each of them in a thorough side-by-side comparison, and came up with a list of the most beneficial cards to travel with in 2018.

We considered the most important factors including introductory offers, rewards points earn rates, redemption structure and policies, annual fees, and additional benefits that you receive with the card.

A card got higher rankings if it offered less fees, high earn rates, extra perks, and an easy redemption policy.

Travel Rewards Credit Cards vs. Airline Credit Cards

If you’ve ever traveled or looked into travel credit cards, you’ve heard the terms airline credit cards and travel rewards credit cards. Chances are that you assumed these two terms are interchangeable. In fact, they are not. Here’s the important difference:

Airline Credit Cards

These are credit cards that are issued directly by an airline, for example, the British Airways Visa Signature® card. In these cases, the airline teams up with a credit card company to offer members a new deal, usually discounts on flights or flight-related items such as free checked baggage, etc.

These deals are airline-specific, and you cannot use the miles for any other airline or travel expenses.

Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Travel rewards credit cards come from a different angle. These miles can be used with any hotel chain, airline, or even travel agent. In fact, often these bonus points can be used on purchases other than airline tickets and other travel-related purchases.

Additionally, you’ll enjoy multiplied or accelerated points accumulation when you use your card to make regular purchases (not just travel-related ones).

All in all, travel rewards cards deliver more for your money, making them our preferred choice.

Most Important Features Of Travel Credit Cards

As mentioned, there are some features that are more important for a travel credit card than others. Since they’re the most significant things to look for when searching for the best travel credit card, we thought it would be a good idea to explain each one. Here’s a brief description of what to look for when comparing cards:

APR

The APR or annual percentage rate is the total amount that the card will cost you each year if you carry a balance. A higher APR means you’ll be shelling out more cash, while a lower APR reflects greater savings. A card with a 0 percent APR introductory rate or an everyday lower APR scored higher in our rankings.

Annual Fees

Annual fees are a big deal among travel cardholders with so much variation from card to card. Cards range from no annual fees to hundreds of dollars, so there is a lot of discussion around the topic.

Credit card companies need to make money somehow, but cardholders need to be incentivized in order to sign up for their cards. Some companies compensate the bigger benefits they offer by charging a higher annual fee, while others prefer to offer smaller benefits and lower or no annual fees. Which is better is the big debate.

So, which is it? That depends mostly on your spending and travel habits. The more you travel, the more advantageous a travel credit card with good rewards and earn rates becomes.

Another factor to consider, however, is how much you spend on your credit card each year.

While it seems obvious that a no annual fee credit card is better than one that charges you yearly, this is not always the case. In some instances, you’re better off paying the annual fee because of the benefits that come with the card. It depends on how much you spend with your card, for the most part. If you aren’t spending a lot annually on your card, then a high annual fee won’t be worthwhile for you to pay, even if it offers great rewards.

Credit Score Required

How good a credit score you need is a major factor to consider when applying for a credit card. Many premium travel cards require good credit, meaning 700 or higher.

If you don’t have this level of credit rating, then you probably won’t be eligible for the card. Fortunately, there are some solid credit card options available to people with fair or poor credit scores.

Redemption

How hard or easy rewards points are to redeem and what you can redeem them for are also big decision makers. It doesn’t help to accrue thousands of points if you can’t redeem them for any of the things you want to buy.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign transaction fees eat away a large chunk of the savings we hope to gain from a reward-based travel credit card. Instead of racking up one to three percent of our purchases in rewards points, a foreign transaction fee actually deducts three percent from your savings. For this reason, only credit cards with no foreign transaction fees are included in our list. You won’t be hit with this colossal charge using any of these cards.

Travel Rewards Structure

How you earn points is important as well. If you earn one point for every dollar you spend or if you earn three points, that’s a big difference. How many points earned is something we take heavily into consideration when comparing travel cards. Additionally, what purchases earn you rewards points, also weighs in.

Alternatively, some cards will offer you a lower earn rate that is equal across all categories. This is the case with the Discover it® Miles. You’ll earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, regardless of category. This is more beneficial for people who only travel infrequently, and wouldn’t make as many purchases on travel expenses.

Other rewards structure factors include any caps on how many points can be earned, expiration dates, and other rules regulating your rewards.

Airline Companion Tickets

Airline companion tickets are basically a free or discounted ride for someone you are traveling with. This is a benefit that is generally reserved by the airlines themselves, and most travel credit cards do not offer this perk. If a card does, it is ranked higher for this advantage.

Introductory Offer

A good introductory offer can be an enticing proposal. Most travel cards have some sort of introductory offer, but this can vary from one card to the next. Some cards offer bonus points while others will give you 0 percent APR for a limited amount of time. One of the most lucrative welcome bonuses is the Discover it® Miles that actually matches your reward miles at the end of the first year. That’s huge!

There’s one thing to note about introductory offers, though. While a nice welcome bonus can give you tremendous gains for the first year, be sure to choose a travel card that will be beneficial to you in the long run as well. If a card loses its value after the first year and leaves you holding a large annual fee, you haven’t really gained much.

Additional Benefits

While travel miles are the crux of your search with travel credit cards, most cards will also come with additional benefits. Think of it as the cherry on top of an already sweet sundae; additional benefits can include shopping perks, travel insurance, and bonuses. Here are some of the bonus perks you’ll get from each of our recommended travel cards:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I be charged any added fees if I use my card overseas?

A: All of the cards on our list of the best travel credit cards do not charge any foreign transaction fees on purchases made overseas.

Q: How can I redeem travel rewards points I’ve already earned?

A: Redeem your travel rewards points in one of two ways:

You charge something to your credit card and then select that item on your statement via the credit card’s website. Choose the item you wish to pay for using your miles, and that amount will automatically be deducted from your bill.

You can use the credit card’s partner website or reservation portal to book flights and other reservations directly using your miles.

Q: Can I redeem only a portion of my rewards and if so, is there a minimum amount I can redeem at once?

A: Depending on the card you use, you may be required to use a minimum number of points if you wish to redeem for only partial purchases. Meaning, if you want to pay for half of your airline ticket using miles, you’ll need to use at least 2,5000 miles to cover the cost. See specific card details for more information.

Q: Do my rewards points expire after a certain amount of time?

A: The vast majority of travel cards will keep your rewards points for the entire duration of your account life. If you deactivate your card, the points will be deactivated as well. Otherwise, you can keep accruing points without worrying about expirations.

Q: What can I redeem my rewards points for?

A: What you can use your rewards points on varies based on the card you sign up for. Generally speaking, most travel cards will allow you to redeem rewards points for airline tickets and hotel reservations, and many will include car rentals, cruises, and other travel-related expenses. A few cards will even let you trade in rewards points for statement credits for anything you want.

Should You Get a Travel Credit Card?

Travel credit cards offer a world of benefit to anyone who currently travels or someone who wants to travel but can’t afford the ticket.

A travel credit card is a good idea for you if you spend a minimum of $1,000 on your credit card each month. Even if you don’t, though, the cards with no annual fees can help you rack up valuable points for any purchases that you are making already.

If you are interested in flying or staying in hotels for free, this type of credit card can make it happen.

Not sure you want a travel credit card? Finding the right credit card for you is much simpler if you know your credit score, and can narrow your search to only the cards you know you’ll get approved for. We’ve made it easy for you. If you don’t already know your score, use our quick and free Credit Score Estimator tool – then find the perfect card for you!